Company Library

Omiya Co., Ltd.

近江屋株式会社

Omiya Co., Ltd. was established in Kyoto in 1951. The company started out as a wholesale agent of white silk crepe and subsequently expanded their business as a wholesale/trading company of a wide range of Japanese-style apparels, focusing on kimono. In 2010, they set up their first overseas office in Taiwan and continue to disseminate kimono culture in Japan and overseas. The company’s original silk textile brand, SANJIKU was launched in 2013 taking advantage of the technique of Sanjiku-Kumiori (triaxial woven fabric) which was derived from a technique called “Kyokumihimo” (braided cords) passed down from over a thousand years ago in Kyoto. The weaving machine used for the production of Sanjiku-Kumiori is a huge circular loom with 5 m in diameter which as of now only two such machines can be found in Kyoto. Omiya studied this rare technique and created a sophisticatedly designed textile to accommodate a contemporary lifestyle. They are actively trying new approaches to promote the textile such as collaboration with luxury brands and participation in “Maison d’Exceptions” Paris, in 2016, an exhibition for the world’s highest level of materials in the fashion industry. This new brand of tradition and innovation from Kyoto is marking a new chapter in the history of the company.